Assistant Director of Operations & Engagement

Classification Title:

AST DIR, Strategic Init/Adv

Classification Minimum Requirements:

Master’s degree in appropriate area of specialization and two years of appropriate experience or a bachelor’s degree in appropriate areas of specialization and four years of experience.

Job Description:

Reporting to the Senior Director of Strategic Engagement, the Assistant Director of Operations & Engagement will support fundraising initiatives, develop reporting systems, and coordinate strategic priorities. This strategic and relationship-focused role helps drive the college’s philanthropic success through data-driven projects and high-level engagement opportunities. A core component of this position involves building and maintaining meaningful relationships with internal stakeholders and external advisory boards, serving as a key partner in coordinating meetings, developing programming, and the governance of councils that guide and support the college's mission.

The Assistant Director will also play a critical role in producing, analyzing, and interpreting fundraising data to inform strategic decisions, track progress toward campaign goals, and align development efforts across multiple units. Ideal candidates will thrive in a fast-paced environment and are energized by building connections and driving results and will possess strong judgment, independent problem-solving abilities, as well as a passion for turning data and engagement into impactful advancement outcomes.

Internal and External Relations

• Meet regularly with chairs/directors/administrative representatives regarding unit priorities, fundraising best practices, and advancement goals.
• Assist in the planning and implementing training for college unit leadership and appropriate support staff.
• In partnership with college units, manage various councils and advisory boards' development, engagement, and programming.
• Create board development strategies and support the office’s effort to identify, recruit, and support board members.
• Ensure excellence, consistency, and timeliness of council and advisory board processes, communications, meetings, and deliverables.
• Manage special initiatives using established best practices and ensuring effective communication of progress to college and unit leadership.
• Manage the President’s Athletics process for the college.
• Provide a broad range of support through coordinating logistics, and communication for internal and external stakeholders to foster efficiency and collaboration within the CLAS Office of Advancement.

Project Management & Reporting

• Collaborate with reporting and analyst teams in producing and examining data reports related to fundraising and engagement strategies and metrics.
• Serve as the liaison between CLAS and Prospect Strategy and Research (PSR) to assist in portfolio management and development.
• Serve as Ascend and AP support for the team and assist with reporting needs as requested by the college leadership.
• Manage special projects and initiatives as assigned in coordination with the college leadership.
• Assist with managing the CLAS development office reporting processes to ensure all deadlines are met.
• Develop, plan, and drive strategies for major and leadership gifts, ensuring that all Top/Next prospects have a documented strategy in place and are being tracked.
• Take an active role in developing systems and processes to support our organization and increase the impact of philanthropy on the college.
• Independently identify performance gaps and develop strategies to sustain fundraising efforts, recognize fundraising success, and drive internal and external constituents on completion of initiative/ project critical assignments.
• Create, implement, direct, and manage initiatives that enhance and support fundraising efforts, with input from college leadership.

Administrative Support

• Provide administrative assistance to members of the Office of Advancement.
• Assist with managing the Human Resources administrative functions for the CLAS Office of Advancement. Serve as the liaison for UF Advancement Talent Management and UF Human Resources.
• Coordinate CLAS hiring procedures, including job postings, management of applicants, arrangement of interviews and completing the hiring process.
• Manage the development of the annual operating budget for the Office of Advancement, but is not limited to evaluation of spending trends, preparation of analysis of spending trends, approval of purchases, and regular reports to development fund administrators regarding year-to-date spending and monitor budget regularly.
• Assist with the gift agreements focusing on trackin